The Cookie Jar

If we ever wonder about secret sins or what might be considered minor transgressions in the life of a Christian, the Apostle Paul can set us straight quickly ... he said something very important that we dare not overlook!

When writing to the Corinthian church, Paul addressed a problem with sexual sin in chapter 5 of 1 Corinthians. The sin was gross, and the action of the sinner was not even considered acceptable among pagans. It wasn't a minor infraction. But Paul, in his Spirit-led wisdom, makes sure we have no excuse to overlook the enormity of the subject sin by reminding us that even a little sin (or leaven) has the same impact upon the sinner as a gross sin.

Paul wants all followers of Christ to understand how important it is to control our urges and cravings and poor choices ... even a little dabble or minor infraction has the potential to contaminate the whole heart. Without confession and repentance, we have a serious problem.

When I was a young teen, I was often hired to babysit so parents could either get to work early or enjoy an evening out. There was a family who lived not far from the pool where I was a lifeguard, who asked me if I would babysit for them. They said they had a young toddler who wouldn't require much attention since he would likely be asleep when they left in the evenings.

The lady of the house loved to bake and always had a cookie jar filled with peanut butter or chocolate chip cookies. The first time I babysat for them, I helped myself to one or two cookies out of the jar while I was there (I don't remember if she ever invited me to eat any). Gradually over the next several months, every time I was hired to babysit, there was that cookie jar beckoning me to indulge! First, it was just a couple of cookies. Then, it was 4-5 cookies (late evenings got long!). By the end of the summer, I had convinced myself that they would never notice if I ate some cookies there and wrapped several more in a napkin to take home with me, so I stuffed my purse. Yes, I loved her cookies, especially the peanut butter chocolate kiss cookies! I couldn't stop eating them ... I was addicted. Sadly, my conscience had somehow justified the fact that they didn't pay me enough for babysitting, so taking the cookies was a way of supplementing my earnings. Makes sense, right? After leaving a near-empty cookie jar, I never heard from them again. I had devastated a wonderful relationship, failed to talk to them and apologize ... I didn't realize the damage I had done to our friendship. (I still love those cookies but refuse to eat them!)

What began as a little leaven ... a little taking something that wasn't mine soon corrupted and polluted a wonderful relationship, ruined the reputation of not only me but our whole family, and cost me a precious friendship with an awesome couple and little guy. Broken trust left nothing good behind. A little leaven had leavened the whole lump.

Unrepentant and justified sin has the same impact on us. It grows whether we choose to think so or not. As an occasional breadmaker, I understand how the leaven, when mixed into the dough, causes the entire lump to expand as the leaven permeates every bit of the bread. The leavening is alive (whether natural or store-bought) and doesn't stop growing until the entire piece of dough is leavened. The same way with our sin. It eventually permeates every area of our lives. We can no longer hide it. We can't pretend it doesn't exist. We can't ignore the fact that others can see what the leaven has done in our lives!

There's a good reason why I've been studying 1 Corinthians 5, and I won't go into it. But, I'm learning just how powerful sin is and how its impact destroys lives, relationships, and our Christian witness, bringing disgrace to the Kingdom of God. We can't pretend to be righteous when, deep inside our hearts, leaven is growing and corrupting and ruining all that God has intended for His glory and for our pleasure.

"Do you not know a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?"

Lord, help us to understand how precious is Your mercy and how destructive leaven is to the grace You have granted us. Help us to never forget, always be alert and watchful, and strong enough to resist the enemy when temptation to allow leaven into our lives wants to overtake us leaving nothing behind but pain, destruction, and ruined lives. Remind us always that we have the power to say, "No!" Amen.